It’s another night in a likely another losing season. That’s what Padres baseball is right now, till all the young players arrive.

But on this night, a Wednesday at the Stadium, the conversation wasn’t about last place, the Washington Nationals, or even the upcoming weekend when they salute the Padres team that went to the World Series.

It was a night to remember “T”…Tony Gwynn. It was his birthday, May 9th, and a night to think about all the facets of Tony Gwynn’s career and life as a Padre.

You can pull up any stat you want, and you realize his greatness.

The gold, shining in the light, on his Hall of Fame plaque in Cooperstown.

The silver slugger bats for all those years.

The (.338) career batting average. The fact he hit over .300 in 19-of his 20-seasons with the Friars, the only year being the rookie season.

The amazing (.394) season in 1994-where he flirted with the magical .400-mark, established by people like Ty Cobb and Ted Williams.

The lifetime hit total of (3,141).

There were equally impressive (.370-.372) seasons.

The (.338) on base career mark. The OPS number of (.847), not bad for a non power hitter.

How about the fact he struck out just 434-times in 10,232-plate appearances.

15-All Star berths. 7-Batting titles. 5-Gold Gloves.

There were winning seasons, lots of losing season, and the joy the odd year when Padres ownership put good players around him, Ken Caminiti, Wally Joyner Kevin Brown, Greg Vaughn, Ricky Henderson..

There were a litany of good managers, bad managers, good GMs’, great owners and awful owners, but thru it all, there was Tony Gwynn’s loyalty to the franchise, the fans, his adopted home and his alma mater SDSU.